Top six finish for Shane Sweetnam in Longines Grand Prix of Slovakia ahead of Sunday’s FEI Nations Cup

Cork-born Shane Sweetnam has scored a sixth place finish in today’s €150,000 five-star Longines Grand Prix at Samorin’s Nations Cup show in Slovakia.

Shane Sweetnam and Indra Van De Oude Heihoef

Riding the 10-year-old grey mare Indra Van De Oude Heihoef, owned by The Blue Buckle Group, Sweetnam finished with one fence down in the first round but a fast time of 77.22 seconds saw them among the top 12 who advanced to the second round. Third to go against the clock, they produced a fantastic clear round in 40.40 to remain on their four fault score from the first round  – taking sixth place overall.

Victory went to Germany’s Philipp Weishaupt and the 11-year-old Asathir after they finished with the fastest of four double clear rounds in 40.33.

Shane Sweetnam will be part of Rodrigo Pessoa’s Irish team for this Sunday’s Longines FEI Nations Cup in Slovakia. The Irish team, sponsored by The Underwriting Exchange and Devenish will also include Mark McAuley, Shane Breen and Paul O’Shea.

Equiline – Official athlete clothing supplier of Team Ireland Equestrian